Kotoro hashimoto



K. HASHIMOTO.

GAME OF FORTUNE,

APPLICATION FlLED APR. 13. I917.

1,35, LUU. Patented May 27, 1919.

KOTORO HASI-IIMOTO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME OF FORTUNES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1919.

Application filed April 13, 1917. Serial No. 161,705.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ko'rono HASHIMOTO, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Game of Fortunes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a game and, more particularly, a game of chance, by the playing of which persons are presumed to obtain a glimpse into the future. The invention is of the character of an amusement, intended, more particularly, for such resorts as Goney Island, and other amusement places, although it is not restricted to such employment.

The object of the invention is to provide a game whereby fortunes may b mechanically told in a fascinating and pleasing manner through the medium of simple mechanism, reliable in its operation.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The present invention is particularly adapted to be built of considerable size and be positioned in booths at amusement parks, where it is open to the access of the public, who are allowed to participate in the game upon the payment of a predetermined fee. Accordingly, the showing made in the accompanying drawing is of that embodiment adapted particularly for such environment. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific construction therein shown, which is for illustrative purposes, only, and does not define the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of the invention which may be employed for public use.

Fig. 2 is a front to rear section, certain of the parts being shown in section and others in elevation, in order to best illustrate the operation of the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, certain portions of the mechanism being omitted in the interest of clearness.

Fig. 4 is a section of the preferred form of ball which is employed in playing the game, and

Fig. 5 is a face view of a conveyer belt which is preferably employed:

sage.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a ball, as shown in Fig. 4, which is so constructed that it is adapted to house a piece of paper or parchment on which is printed a fortune. In the specific form shown, the fortune is on a scroll incased within a ball formed in halves secured together. The ball may partake of different forms, as long as the construction is such as to carry the mes In accordance with the present invention, a large number of these balls is provided, in each of which is placed a different message, and said balls are adapted to be manipulated by mechanical means in such manner as to roll along a platform or counter, to be individually picked up and opened by a person playing the game. Many persons actually believe that their future is, more or less, a game of chance, and such persons find considerable enjoyment in playing the game of this invention.

The mechanical means for manipulating the balls embodies, in the preferred form shown, an endless conveyer consisting of a flexible belt B, stretched over a pair of rollers Z) Z), positioned one above the other, as shown best in Fig. 2. Disposed on the outer face of the belt are elevating fingers 0, arranged in pairs spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 5. Fingers c are so shaped that a ball A may be supported by each pair of fingers and elevated upwardly and over the upper roller 6', at which point the fingers become inverted and dump the balls, successively, free from the belt.

Balls A, upon being released from the conveyer belt, fall into an inclined chute D, Which is branched to form two diverging chutes d d, as shown in Fig. 1. Chute D and its branches may be formed in any desired manner, but, in the preferred construction, are embodied in channels formed in the face of the inclined front member E of the apparatus. Chute D and its branches curve downwardly and outwardly along general lines and terminate at their bottoms in a transverse channel F, said channel lying' substantially horizontal. The base of channel F is preferably crowned to slightly slope toward its ends, and from. said opposite ends bra'nch troughs g 9 lead to a main trough Gr. Both the main and branch troughs are inclined, and said main trough extends rearwardly from beneath channel F to a point rearwardly of conveyer belt B, as shown in Fig. 3. A. stop is positioned near the end of trough G to arrest the movement of balls rolling therethrough and position the foremost ball substantlally medial of the belt and rearward thereof, as

a ball, as well as through the slots 0 at the upper end of the chutes, during the downward movement of said fingers. The conveyer belt is driven at a constant speed by any suitable mechanism, here shown as meshing gears h h actuated by a wormwheel k adapted to be driven by a worm k mounted on the shaft h of a motor H.

In the preferred construction, a sufficient number of balls A is provided to practically fill the chutes d d, channel F, and the mam and branch troughs G, g and 9, so that, as

the conveyor operates, there will be a continuous stream of balls down the branch chutes. The branch chutes and channel F are preferably filled with balls at all times, so that, when a prospective player approaches the stand or booth, a large number of balls is exposed to view. Upon the payment of the required fee to the attendant, the player is allowed to pick. up and open one of the balls and keep the message or fortune therein contained, which message is presumed to give the player some light upon his future. After the message has been re; moved by the player, a new one is placed within the ball by the attendant, who reassembles the parts thereof and returns the ball to the apparatus.

It is desirable that the conveyer belt and all the actuating parts of the apparatus be concealed. from View, to lend an air of mystery to the game, and, in the preferred form of the invention,.the upper portion of the conveyer belt which extends above the upper edge of chute D is preferably concealed from view by a. large globe or spherical body I, upon the surface of which may be,

representedthe earths surface, the words Fortune game, the constellations of the heavens, stars, etc., or any other. desired data, either in the form of pictorial illustrations or advertising matter. In order that the whole apparatus may appear to. have life, the sphere I is preferably, rotated by any suitable means,,such, e. as by mounting the same for rotation-upon a shaft 7;,

and driving said shaft through a sprocket chain or belt 2'', connected with.thevmotoii shaft. Sphere I ispreferably made. quite large, so that it entirely conceals theaforesaid, upper portion; of the conveyer belt, the balls A; seeming to. emerge from some mys terious point; rearward of the. sphere.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a fascinating and novel game, adapted to be played, if desired, by crowds at a time, and is not necessarily limited to one or two players. The apparatus may be built in such an alluring and attractive manner as to necessarily arrest the attention of passers-by, and the unique combination of movements between the large sphere and the smaller balls, particularly in the absence from sight of the mechanism which occasions their movement, compels, more than mere passing attention.

The foregoing description deals with the invention in the form. adapted for use in a booth at such places as Coney Island, or other amusement centers, the form shown being particularly well adapted for such environment. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and form shown, but is as broadly novel as is commensuratev with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A; game embodying av plurality of hollow balls, each of which is adapted to contain a message, an inclined chute down which said balls may roll, a channel at the lower end of the chute for receiving the ballsdelivered therefront wherein the balls are exposed and from which they may be manually withdrawn, means for elevating the balls and delivering them, one at a time, to the upper end of the chute, and, a trough forrreceiving, the balls vfrom the channel and delivering them, one at a time, to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chute by a player for the purpose of withdrawing'the message therein contained. 7

2. A game embodying a plurality of hollow balls, each of which is adapted, to contain a message, a chute, having a gentle downward and. forward curve, down which said balls may roll, a transverse channel. at the lower end of the chute for receiving the balls, automatic means for elevatingthe ballsand; delivering them, one at a time, to the upper end of the chute, and a troughafor receiving the balls from the chute and delivering them, one at a time, totheelevatingmeans, any one of said balls being. reg movable from thechute by a player for. the purpose of withdrawing the message therein contained. 1 f

3. A game embodying av plurality of hollow balls, each of which is adapted to cone tain a normally visible message. upon. the opening of. the ball, a chute down which said balls may roll, means for elevating the balls and delivering them to the u and Y a trough i for receiving. the.

balls at the lower end of the chute and delivering them to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chute by a player for the purpose of withdrawing the message therein contained.

4. A game embodying a plurality of hollow balls, each of which is adapted to contain a message, a plurality of separate chutes down which the balls may roll, means for elevating the balls and delivering them, one at a time, to the upper ends of said chutes, and means for receiving the balls at the lower ends of the chutes and delivering them, one at a time, to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chutes by a player for the purpose of withdrawing the message therein contained.

5. A game embodying a plurality of hollow balls, each of which is adapted to contain a message, a plurality of chutes down which the balls may roll, a common channel into which the chutes discharge, means for elevating the balls and delivering them, one at time, to the upper ends of the chutes, and a trough for receiving the balls from the common channel and delivering them, one at a time, to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chutes by a player for the purpose of with drawing the message therein contained.

6. A game embodying a plurality of hollow balls, each of which is adapted to contain a message, a plurality of diverging chutes down which the balls may roll, a common channel into which the chutes discharge, a trough into which the channel discharges, means for elevating the balls and delivering them, one at a time, to the upper ends of the chutes, and means for receiving the balls from the common channel and delivering them, one at a time, to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chutes by a player for the purpose of withdrawing the message therein contained.

7. A game embodying a plurality of hollow balls, each of which is adapted to contain a message, a plurality of chutes down which the balls may roll, a common channel into which the chutes discharge, automatic means for elevating the balls and delivering them, one at a time, to the upper end of the chutes, means for receiving the balls from the common channel and delivering them, one at a time, to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chutes by a player for the purpose of withdrawing the message therein contained, rotatable advertising means for concealing the receiving ends of the chutes, and means for simultaneously actuating the elevating and the advertising means.

8. A game embodying a plurality of balls, each of which is adapted to contain a message, a chute down which said balls may roll, means for elevating the balls and delivering them, one at a time, to the upper end of the chute, a trough for receiving the balls at the lower end of the chute and delivering them, one at a time, to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chute by a player for the purpose of withdrawing the message therein.

contained, rotatable advertising means positioned to conceal the upper end of the chute, and means for simultaneously actuating the elevating and the advertising means.

9. A game embodying a plurality of balls, fortune legends contained within said balls, a chute down which said balls may roll, means for elevating the balls and delivering them to the upper end of the chute, and means for receiving the balls at the lower end of the chute and delivering them to the elevating means, any one of said balls being removable from the chute by a player for the purpose of withdrawing the fortune legend therein contained.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

KOTORO HASIHMOTO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G. 

